Someone Like You by Tracy Corbett

Author:Tracy Corbett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Ltd
Published: 2021-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Friday, 25 June

Will cursed when a speed camera flashed in his rear-view mirror. That was all he needed, more points on his licence. He was already on six. Last time, he’d avoided further punishment by attending a speed awareness course. But the officer’s advice that he needed to ‘leave earlier’ to avoid running late and risk a further fine, wasn’t helpful on days when his kid was poorly.

He glanced over at Poppy. She was wearing her bunny onesie and cuddling the large panda he’d got her for Christmas. ‘Tell me if you’re going to be sick so I can pull over, okay?’

She nodded, looking forlorn and small as she sunk down into the seat. ‘Okay.’

‘Okay, as in you’ll tell me? Or okay, as in you’re going to be sick?’

‘I’ll tell you.’

That was something.

He turned into Chobham high street, feeling bad for dropping Poppy off with his parents when she was unwell. But it wasn’t like he could leave her alone in the house, was it? He was needed on set. He couldn’t be in two places at once. So he’d made a few frantic phone calls, and eventually persuaded his mum to cancel her golf lesson and look after Poppy.

He felt guilty for leaving his daughter, guilty for ruining his mum’s social life. And guilty for ignoring the multitude of texts he’d received from various work colleagues wanting to know where the hell he was. He was a bad employer.

He was an even worse dad.

Not that Poppy’s condition was serious. In fact, he wasn’t even sure she was ill. She’d woken up complaining of a tummy ache and a headache. But she had no temperature, no fever, and had eaten her breakfast just fine. He suspected she didn’t want to go to school.

Why, he wasn’t sure – she normally enjoyed school. Maybe she was being bullied? Or hadn’t done her homework? Had she fallen out with a teacher?

All he knew was that his daughter had looked at him with a forlorn expression and begged him to stay at home with her so they could curl up on the sofa and watch a film. Something he would have loved to have done, but something that was an impossibility when he was in the middle of planning such a big event.

He turned off the high street. ‘Are you missing anything important at school today?’

‘Not really.’ She cuddled her panda closer. ‘Elliot’s mummy is coming into school this afternoon to make lanterns with the class.’

‘Seems a shame to miss that. Sounds like fun.’

She sniffed. ‘I guess.’

‘Maybe if you’re feeling better later, Nanny can run you into school, so you don’t miss the lesson.’

Poppy gave an imperceptible shrug.

‘Wouldn’t you like to make a lantern?’

She nodded.

‘Then what’s the problem?’

She buried her face in the panda. ‘The other mummies are coming in to help.’

So that was it.

‘And you’re sad because you won’t have anyone there?’

Another nod.

It wasn’t the first time this had happened, though it never got any easier to deal with. His daughter wanted something he couldn’t give her, and that hurt.

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